New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-18
THE TEST OF NxY PARTIES

Third parties always have oSe gredt w
stacle to overcome-the public dlstrHs Oh
their sincerity. If it comes to be suspected
that they exist only for the purpose OF fraud
uIcntly aiding either of the great parties
their chance TO grow as independent oigani-
cations is liable to vanish utterly. Bun
leaders of such parties are constantly tempted
to make open or secret alliances, In order 10
gain the prestige Of local success, or the
election of local officers. or secret supplies OF
campaign funds. The temptations mciincs
them to deceive themselves with the notion
that they can make bargain and reap Its
fruits without exciting public suspicion. But
IN almost every case they find the pubic
sense keencr than they had imagined, ans
disgrace follows exposure, and the possiblh-
ties and hopes of the organization disappear
Respectable and upright citizens refuse 70
have anything to do with tricky and us
honest attempt to help one OF the partles
which they profess TO oppose, and so tie new
party is left to the exclusive possession OF
exposed political cheats.
Past experience of many organizations
warns the labor party OF Ohio and the teair
perance party in some other States that they
have no possible future if they engage III
secret bargains with the Democrats. But the
necessities and ambitions of local leaders con-
tinualy tempt them to make precisely the
contracts which are most sure to deprive
their organization of influence or respect
ability. Just now the Labor party OF Ono
wants balance of power in the Legislature
Standing On its own principles and honestly
opposing both the old parties, it has little
| nj hal mower
Men sincerely devoted to its principles wouH
refuse a success not attained by hrm AL
hcrence to those principles. But leaders who
arc hungry for seats in the Legislature, or ior
ether places, or who want TO keep themselves
alive by the prestige Of nominal success 10
certain cities or counties, arc powerfully
tempted to bargain with tho Democrats
secretly helping the Democratic party IN the
State on condition that the Democrats WI
help them to elect members Of the Legislature
| in q few localities
The temperance men have been subjected
| to the same temptation, and the pubic IL
uahappily aware that in some places theS
have not been strong enough TO resist 1t De
tails need not here be repeated OF the pc
cuniary and other help .obtaincd from Demo
l Cr3tS In SOME XNUoCAh ~S 81
professed apostles Of temperance. who
have thereby become known a.
hirelinQs of tho rum shops BAL
in some other States, especially at the South
the temperance men have shown their SIN
ccrity by refusing all alliances and submitting
to the people simple and direct issues uneon-
nected with party politics, and there they
have attained remarkable success.
| This test of sincerity is SO simple and SO
sure that honest voters are quick to apply u
for themselves. When they see third party
| So acting that it can harm only one Oh tho
two great parties which it processes to oppose
and doing what it can to help the other Of
those parties, the evidence of dishonest
bargain is sufficient for {" the plain people
The bargains reported from Ohio Will not
escape the attention of those voters who arr
honest in supporting the principles professed
| by the Labor party. The first step toward
practical consunlmation of that bargain viii
cost the labor organization the support OF
honest voters by the thousand, Democrats
| and ReuubhcanS alike